Brawn: Michael is relaxed

"Already having five championships behind you doesn't make a sixth any less valuable," Brawn said, "but at least you've done it before. For the other guys who haven't done it before, it might be their only chance, so I think that aspect of being in Michael's position can help a bit."

The first session of qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix featured five different makes of car in the first five positions, with major championship protagonists Juan Pablo Montoya and Schumacher Sr only eighth and ninth quickest.

Brawn denied that there is any panic in the Ferrari camp. "There is natural concern when you get this close to a championship and you want to do everything you can to succeed," he said, "but Michael is not fretting too much. He's relatively relaxed. He's not a ranter and raver anyway. That's the good thing about him. He's forceful without getting emotional, and I think that shows on the track."

Brawn also denied that Ferrari is too concerned about Michelin's recent tyre advantage. "You have to be philosophical about tyres," he stated. "Sometimes you have an advantage and sometimes you don't. But over a period, if you trust your partners, then it all evens out.

"It's a bit like referees decisions - sometimes they go for you, sometimes against you. I think we enjoyed significant advantages last year, but maybe not so much this year."